It's hard to believe that only old foundations and bricks are about all that's left of a location which once supported over 30,000 -- Camp Cody.The camp, which was established three miles northwest of Deming in the summer of 1917, probably came into being because of World War 1 and the 1916 Poncho Villa raid on Columbus. Those two events are now memories, as is Camp Cody. In its heyday Camp Cody was a city of it's own and self-supportive. Not only did the camp have its own hospital and fire department, but it also boasted a theatre, post office and library for the National Guard troops who were training there.

Add this to the 10,000 or so people who lived in Deming and the area became quite a bustling place for men of the 34th Infantry Division from Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa and other states. While Deming was the closest town to Camp Cody, soldiers also made the trip to old Tyrone, which was also in its prime, for entertainment. Training wasn't restricted to the Deming area either, as troops would go out on maneuvers near Cooke's Peak and the Burro Mountains, where World War I items can still be found lying around. Camp Cody only trained troops for about five years but while it was there it made a big splash on the area. The El Paso Morning Times would devote a full page each issue to Camp Cody, including a comic strip of the camp.

In addition, troops organized baseball and boxing teams and held inter-camp football games. At least two musical pieces were even written by soldiers at the camp, "Camp Cody Blues Fox Trot," by Harry Baisden and "Dem Deming Blues," also entitled "The Sandstorm Division is Coming." Although El Paso and Deming papers were widely distributed in the area at the time, Camp Cody also had its own publication, a weekly newspaper called "The Reveille." It was the social organ of the infantry and subscription was just 10 cents per month. Camp Cody was indeed a lively place during World War I but after the camp was closed down in 1922. The soldiers left the location and were replaced by medical people and nuns, as the camp became the Holy Cross Sanatorium.

It was originally decided that the camp would become a hospital for tuberculosis patients but later it became a vocational training center for those who had TB. The Roman Catholic Church later purchased the land and made it into a hospital. About $250,000 in renovations were then made by famous architect Henry Trost of El Paso and in May of 1923 the sanatorium was formally opened. By 1938, though, the sanitarium had to close as patients became fewer and TB was on the decline. A year later, Holy Cross almost completely burned down, for reasons still unknown.

The Princess Theater was built east of the Lester Deckert building on East Pine.

The Isis Theater was next to the Princess.

The Cody Theater was at 100 North Gold at thecorner of Pine and Gold with concessions in connection. Both movies and vaudeville shows here. It was a beautiful building, the acoustics were good, the aisles carpeted and seated about 500 people. Admission fee here was higher than the other movies. The Cody Theater burned to the ground in 1918.

The Majestic Theater was in the 100 block of North Gold on the East Side of the street.

The Rialto Theater, 105 North Silver Street.

The Teal Theater -- 402 East Pine Street (Pine and Diamond), a vaudeville, U-Eat-Um Pie Shop (Pies baked in Deming) and other concessions lined the south side of East Pine from the Salvation Army Building at 300 East Pine, beyond the Teal Theater.

The Pastime Theater -- 200 East Pine, Western Movies (William S. Hart, William Duncan, and Harold Holiday and the weekly serial western).

The Comet Theater -- 115 South Silver, later a skating rink.

Air Dome Theater -- open air theater north of the Baker Hotel on South Silver.

The Crystal Theater was a vaudeville theater and the Opera House for graduation exercises & community plays.

The Y.M.C.A. and Hostess House were located in the 500 block of West Pine on the North side of the street.

The Salvation Army built a two-story building at 300 East Pine.

Pool Halls, Tobacco Shops, Candy stores, soft drink places thrived. Every cubbyhole, nook and cranny was filled. All the saloons were closed because one could not be within five miles of a United States Army Camp.

Dances were held at the New Mexico State Armory. The ladies report having many good times there with their soldier boy friends.

The Harvey House was the center of much entertainment being one of the finest between St. Louis and San Francisco.